WJPA Sports

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Mason Rudolph is familiar with competition as the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp. The longtime backup quarterback, now in his ninth NFL season, faces another year of uncertainty about his roster spot. While Aaron Rodgers is firmly atop the depth chart, the spots behind him are up for grabs, with Rudolph jockeying with youngsters Will Howard and Drew Allar for position. First-year coach Mike McCarthy must decide whether to rely on Rudolph’s experience or opt for a fresh approach. The 31-year-old Rudolph remains focused, saying he’s ready to prove himself once again.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eduardo Rodríguez pitched eight shutout innings, Gabriel Moreno hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series. Arizona now sits two games up on the Pirates for the final NL wild card. Rodríguez struck out two while giving up five hits on 105 pitches before Brandyn Garcia closed out a hitless ninth inning for his second save of the year. Max Kepler drove in the only other score with an RBI single in the sixth inning.

DETROIT (AP) — Trade deadline target Tarik Skubal and Detroit fans gave each other a warm farewell Wednesday, just in case this was the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s final appearance in a Tigers jersey. Skubal was cheered at every opportunity by a crowd of 34,406 while taking a shutout into the seventh inning against Baltimore. His first standing ovation came when he struck out leadoff hitter Taylor Ward on a 3-2 changeup to record his 1,000th career strikeout. He reached the mark in 857 innings, breaking Max Scherzer’s franchise-best mark of 944 2/3 innings.